Saturday, February 25, 2012

Wall of Prayer

Several months back I mentioned in one of my posts that I have a "prayer wall" in my room, and a couple of you were curious as to what exactly it was. So, I thought I would share a bit of my wall with you, and possibly encourage you to do something similar.

I have prayer journaled for a long time, but sometimes there is just too much to write out, and sometimes prayers do not necessarily have words (any of you know what I mean?). So, in college I started making "prayer lists." I had dozens of people and places I was praying for, so I kept a list that I would go over, but too soon it felt like a "to do" list. I wanted my prayer life to be authentic, but I didn't just want to throw the list away and possibly forget to pray for the people and places that God had placed on my heart. Plus, I knew I needed another way to stay focused and keep my mind from wondering like it tends to do. And from there grew my idea of a prayer wall.


My wall is constantly changing, and has actually changed quite a bit since I took this photo a few months back, and I am ready to do some big changes again...because God answers prayer.

On the top left I have a bulletin board devoted to missions, where I have photos and short descriptions of missionaries I pray for around the world.

The bulletin board on the right has many things, including scriptures, words I pray for myself (such as wisdom and reckless abandon), and photos of specific people I pray for (such as my Youth for Christ kids, my Compassion kids, and some of the children I have worked with in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and India.) Because there are simply too many pictures to fit on the board, I also have names written down, and in the wicker basket on the bottom left I have photo albums I will flip through to find a photo of the specific person I am praying for.

Finally, at the bottom I have a world map. Actually, I had a world map, but it is currently on its way to Uganda where it will make its home in a mud hut to encourage my Compassion daughter, Namara Ruth's, love for geography. I am sure it will soon be replaced with another map or something equivalent but a bit more creative. The point of the map is to remember to pray beyond myself and my own little corner of the world, but it also reminds and encourages me to stay informed of world events.

I love my prayer wall because seeing it everyday keeps people and places close to my heart and on my mind, which encourages me to pray for them continuously. Believe me, I am not a super disciplined prayer warrior...but I would like to be, and this wall is just one way I have found of supporting growth in my prayer life that works really well for me.

I am curious to know, do any of you have prayer walls, rooms, or corners in your home? Or specific prayer routines or creative outlets that encourage growth in your prayer life? Please share!


11 comments:

Hannah said...

Wow, this is really cool! I've been in the same situation you were in, where prayer has become more of a to-do list. I might just make one of these!

Shebecomes said...

Mark- you will soon be making an appearance on my wall, along with some beautiful Indian girls :)

Hannah- you should def. try it out! If you do you should share yours with us.

Jill Foley said...

I love this prayer wall idea. I'm definitely thinking how I might implement this in my home.

Shebecomes said...

@Jill- I was watching The Secret Life of Bees last weekend, and May had a wailing wall where she wrote out her prayers and put them in the wall, and it kinda made me think for a family it would be a cool idea to have a board where you could write out/ or draw symbols for prayer requests, as well as short simple prayers for eachother and in response to the prayer requests. Don't know how it would work exactly, just an idea for part of a prayer wall :)

Jennifer said...

This is awesome. I have been thinking about this very thing for the past month, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it. I think I may I have to follow your lead!

Denise said...

Such a fantastic idea, bless you, as you bless others.

Divinely Acquitted said...

Wow! What a great idea! Talk about praying "thoughtfully" and with purpose! This is awesome... thanks for sharing. =)

Shanda said...

I love this. I used to have a prayer bulletin board but have no such reminder now.

Yvonne said...

Came over here from Jill's blog! I found a prayer board idea on Pinterest, but I love how you have included so many things on your wall! The visual reminders are so great to help us all in our prayer life.

momto8 said...

what a great idea! I have never heard of anything like this before. Just shows how we are all connected...and all in this world together. Lets all make this a better place!!
i am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

Megan said...

I love this! I have found my prayer lists to become like to-do lists too and this is a creative way to reminded to pray! Thanks for sharing! :)